Another page

Here's another page from the fabric book (well two actually!)
These two are the last page and inside back cover and it has been a labour of love. 

My lovely visitors will have already seen the front of this book which I have been working on for a while - it's now finished and I still have some pages to share. 
(The front cover is HERE)

Am so very grateful to a good friend who introduced me to 'Slow Stitching' when things here were at rock bottom. 
Not only has it helped my health but it's also served the purpose of making a very large dent in all those scraps of lace, fabric etc which have accumulated over the years!

I simply sat and hand sewed odd bits of stuff and with the exception of me deciding I wanted to do something 'frothy' which also reflected my love of birds and flowers there was no definite plan.
I did what I wanted and didn't concern myself if the stitches were untidy or the edges frayed. The whole point of slow stitching is the mindfulness, where you shut out everything and just let things evolve. Perfection isn't the point - the journey is.

I can honestly say that this has been the best therapy.
Life now has got so much more positivity and I am thankful.
Sometimes 'hanging in there' makes your arms ache but it makes your shoulders stronger!

Thanks for looking. x 
It's been a long long time since I have linked up to any challenges but here goes
Snippets Playground (all my fabric/lace are leftover snippets)
Neglected Stuff
Triple B
Ellibelles Garden Party #14

Feminine

 Our challenge at TRY IT ON TUESDAY for the next 2 weeks is called MAKE IT FEMININE.

I recently was introduced to 'Slow Stitching' which is all about relaxation and mindfulness. 
The idea is not to actually plan anything but to allow your project to simply evolve without any pressure. No using a sewing machine either, just all hand stitching.

I have a very large box of vintage lace, odd bits of fabric and bits of stuff long unused so it seemed a start to maybe use some of it up.

I ended up making an A5 size 6 page fabric book and this is the front cover.

I stamped lots of quotes, some images of flowers and birds onto fabric and as I did each page just picked one which took my fancy at that particular moment.

I found a previously made tag in the box and just used that for the front.

I am not proficient with a needle and thread but can honestly say I really enjoyed making this book.

Stitching with no plan and no worrying if your stitches were even straight was very calming and  I allowed myself to just shut everything out. 
The best thing was being able to pick it up and put it down without trying to plan out a design.

I am delighted with the finished book - no doubt I will be able to share more pages with you over the coming months!
Thanks for looking and I hope to see your 'feminine' projects over on the challenge blog. x 

Traditional Christmas at Try It On Tuesday

 Christmas is looming and our challenge for the next 2 weeks at Try it On Tuesday is called 'TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS'
There is nothing more traditional than a Christmas Tree is there?
So here's my take on the theme -

I am not very good at sewing but I confess to having such fun making these - so much so I ended up making a whole forest in different sizes! (Well quite a few anyway!)

I have long been promising to get round to using up scraps of material and lace which have lain in a box for years.
I also have a massive amount of stash (like everybody else) which I hoard because in 48 years time I might need it for something...........

I made a little dent in the pile and enjoyed myself!
I hand stitched most of the decoration on the triangle trees which were sewed on the machine and were cut from the remains of a fat quarter.

The 'trunk' is a pencil wrapped in twine
I used some stuffing from an old cushion to fill the trees, then glued a little bit of stuffing to the pencil before glueing again and pushing into the tree top.

I was a bit bothered as I wasn't sure if this would work but happy to say it dried well inside and the glue didn't seep through to the material.

The pencil trunk was glued into oasis which had been glued into the little buckets. Again I wasn't sure how good this would turn out but it's dried solid and the trees are quite stable, the biggest one measures about 12 inches tall.

Added some snowy stuff, some glittery bits of a scrap of yarn and wooden shapes (which I have had FOREVER)
Hope you will join us for this challenge!
Will share some of the others in another post. Thanks for looking. x
Linking up at
Pixies Playground with all of my lace and odd leftovers!
Crafty Catz - A/Goes
Simon says Stamp - Trees
Double Trouble Thing 1 - Stitch it Up

Seeing Stars

Happy Saturday!
I have had a mammoth card making fest the last 2 days - day off tomorrow as I am travelling tonight to attend another Presentation in the Midlands, although I may get home tomorrow at a reasonable time - weather permitting!
We've had quite a bit of snow the last 2 days (one of the perils of living so high up!) and the window up here on the top floor is completely covered - although DH has been out this morning and says the roads on the lower levels are fine - we just have to negotiate down to the main road and the motorway!!

I bought these hessian stars last year and found them when looking for something else and I remembered a rustic style card I had seen which used a wooden star - hence an idea. I have no idea why I bought these excepting they were reduced! They are actually I think a little big for cards and probably were intended for a garland or something.

White linen card used as my base.
An Indigo Blu script stamps embossed in gold provided the background and I then randomly dabbed a paintbrush rubbed over an embossing pad to make the smudgy bits!
A couple of star stamps also embossed in gold.

The hessian star was simply stuck on using foam pads so it is a little raised from the card.

The two stars were die cuts which got a triple embossing treatment - serves them right - they were just laying there on the desk.....

I used some gold metallic embroidery thread - this thread was out of my Mum's embroidery stash - (I still have lots of colours left!) but there's something about gold and white that just shouts Christmas to me!!
The sentiment is from SU.
Challenges
4 Crafty Chicks - Fabric
Crimbo Crackers - A/goes
CRAFT - Christmas
Christmas at Sweet Stampin - A/Goes
Daring Cardmakers - Insp by Christmas Carol (Bright Star of Bethlehem - here) 
Stamplorations - Stamp and 3 (my 3 stars!)

Thanks for paying me a call today - hope you are warm and dry wherever you are! x😃

Sew Special

Stamping Sensations challenge this month is 'Sew Special' and we're sponsored by Sizzix with a fab prize so hope you can join in with us!
Here's my card -

and as the challenge theme suggests it's all to do with sewing!

The papers are from Melissa Frances' Classic Elegance' pad.
Distressed and stitched the background paper onto grey then white card before adding all the different layers.

All the distressing done with Pumice Stone DI or Weathered Wood DI.

I turned down the corner of the third layer before hand stitching the button Then machined the whole layer three quarters of the way round onto the base card.

Rolled up some material scraps and stuck them behind the turn down to imitate fabric rolls.

Added some lace and some cream seam binding ribbon, hanging the metal scissors charm from the centre of the bow.

All the stamps were from a free set with a card making magazine and the buttons are from my stash.
Other Challenges -
Come and Get It - Buttons and Bows
House of Cards - Stitching
Allsorts - Lots of Layers
Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
CFTH - Anything Goes
Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes

Thanks for taking the time to pop in today. I am home for a few days from the middle of this week so am looking forward to catching up with all that you've been doing whilst I've been doing my 'duty' elsewhere! x

A Visit to Grandma's House - Shabby Chic - Crafty Cardmakers DT

It's time for another challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and this one is one of my ABSOLUTE FAVES!! So I hope you will find time to join us this fortnight - prizes up for grabs!!
A big thank you to fellow Teamie BettyC who set this challenge - SHABBY CHIC. Love it!
 I have had soooo much fun creating this project and I used up lots of little bitty things - fiddly, time consuming, messy desk and sticky fingers - just what us crafters love!

 Be warned now before you go any further this is a VERY picture heavy post - I have put 'close up' views at the bottom - please enlarge if you want a better look!

I bought this house shaped box some time ago and had already painted and distressed it but when we moved house it got packed away and I finally got round to making it up.
It gave me a chance to just - well have a 'play'!

My gran was an accomplished dressmaker. She made everyone's wedding dresses, bridesmaids outfits, winter coats etc and all my summer dresses. I was the proud owner of a beautiful red velvet dress with a white crochet collar one Christmas when I was about 8 followed by a luscious brown corduroy coat with a leather collar for my birthday.

So this project is in it's own way a tribute to her amazing needle skills - and of course her prowess with a Singer sewing machine!

Quick run down through the 'storeys' -
Attic - small cardboard box liberally stamped, a little Paris Passport rescued from another project, a hat, parasol, old clock and old sign, a bit of lace thrown in!

First floor - Paris backed Perfume Advert, small parcel of fabric, vintage lace and a teeny pink thimble, some 'rolls' of fabric (done by using cocktail sticks and scraps!), a couple of tiny buttons, sewing machine (stamped on metal) and a 'remember' sticker. Dressmakers dummy covered in paper and some floaty fabric, a mirror made by using modelling paste, acrylic paints and metallic rubs for the frame with the insert from a piece of tin foil, a reel of vintage ribbon secured with a sparkly pin and a small cotton reel.

Ground floor -from the left -  image printed onto fabric (reminded me of the way my hair was done in 'ringlets' when I was small!) edged with vintage lace, a fabric rose and a pearl earring,
Centre - a sewing 'basket' containing some vintage style pins, a safety pin, tape measure and scissors, a button and specs and a candelabra to see by!  

Right - a ladies vintage boot, more buttons and a tiny hanger with a feather bit all sat on some vintage lace.

Challenges -
Natalie & Amy - Shabby Chic
Altered Eclectics - Alter Something
Dream Valley - Buttons
The Crafting Cafe - Anything Goes
All Crafts Challenge - Anything but a Card
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
Created with Love - Sewing
ALBC - A little bit Shabby

I hope you have enjoyed my little trip down memory lane - the box is now sat on my work room wall where it evokes memories of my childhood!
Thanks for visiting today - have a great time whatever you're doing. x

Mermaid Secrets

Spent yesterday holed up in the craftie space - the rain was lashing against the windows!
So quite fitting that I made something on a watery theme..... LOL

This image is a simply gorgeous offering from A Day For Daisies - and the best thing about it was that it was a freebie!

I coloured her with a mix of pastel chalks and promarkers in varying shades of aqua, adding a wee bit of sparkly stuff randomly round the 'sea' and of course on the wee fishes!
I used three different papers from the Raspberry Road 'Seaside Chic' collection, distressed them all and then inked the edges with distress ink before layering up.

Added some lace and some slubby fabric suitably ripped before placing the image inside a frame die cut from the same papers.
The corner on the top right was a piece of the off cut from the frame and I just liked it!
A few shells, also blinged and some mosaic sparkly bits also used to give a 'reflective' effect.

The sentiment is also from the same paper collection and I love it.
I put some rope and fibres behind and a seahorse button before placing on the card.
Inside as usual done in the same papers to carry on the theme.

Challenges -
Country View Crafts - Layers
Card Crafters Circle - Portrait of a Woman
Sweet Pea - Fantasy
A&TEF - Magical Creatures
Southern Girls - Make Believe
Digitally Sweet - Anything Goes
4Krafty Girlz - Anything Goes
C2CU - Texture and Your Style (Am not sure I have a particular style as I feel equally happy with both CAS and fussy!)

Its quite a cool day and I haven't made my mind up what I'm going to do! Might pop out but then again might not! have a lovely day whatever you're doing and thanks for stopping by. x

Texture and Stitching

Is it cold where you are? It's freezing here!
This week's challenge at Less Is More is to 'use beads'.
Dreaming of warmer weather probably planted this little seed of an idea which surprisingly fitted the challenge theme.

  
I used to wear these wooden beads (very hippy chick - LOL)  and having a clear out a few years ago I put them into the craft stash with the usual crafters mantra - 'they may come in useful'!!

Cut myself a piece of hessian type stuff from the material bag and tacked it onto a dark piece of material.

Stitched the wooden beads on and then stitched the wooden charm onto a piece of 'cheetah skin' ribbon threading some small coppery seed beads through as I stitched.

Then sewed it onto the backing 'mat.

The wooden bark heart was from my stash.

The words and zig zag where computer generated and I printed out onto cream hammered cardstock.

I considered embossing round the 'mat' but in the end left it plain as I rather liked the 'tatty' and 'rough' texture mix and didn't want to 'formalize' it.

I have a friend who loves all things to do with Africa so no doubt this will be sent to her very soon!!

Am really disappointed with this pic though - it looks so much better 'in real life' - spent ages trying to get good reproduction of it but in the end the grey skies defeated me!

Thanks for calling in - enjoy what's left of your weekend. xx

Fabric Postcard 1

Well here it is...... (drum roll please - lol).... here is my first postcard for the 3 way swap with Jan and Maureen. Maureen has received hers so can safely post it without spoiling the surprise - hope Jan also has hers by now....

I received Maureen's this morning and it is truly beautiful - so have a lot to learn about making these but don't suppose this one of mine is too bad for a novice.

Had major trouble with the edges.... my sewing machine doesn't do neat!

Will post Jan's once I know she's received it.

3 down................

After the rose (see post below!) I was spurred to try and create something pretty!

Here is another piece for my (hopefully) soon to be assembled fabric book. I now have three projects completed and need to do a couple more. Maureen (the mentor...lol) has kindly sent me some canvas to use as the pages for the book and am looking forward to finishing this project, not because I am fed up doing it, far from it(!), but because I have really enjoyed doing it and want to finish it!

I have again used as the backing fabric, more of the chinese silk. This time I used a pale blue piece which really is a beautiful colour and it seemed a pity to cover it but needs must.. so cover it I did, although you can see a small bit of it at the top and bottom!

I used some old cream and pale blue lace for the right hand side (the blue of which has not shown up too well in the pic), a piece of striped fabric from my stash which I frayed and some paper from the huge K and Co pad I recently bought.

The image is printed onto cotton fabric and the blue picot edging was, like all the silk, given to me by my mother in law! I put the image onto a piece of frayed muslin and hand stitched the ribbon roses and pearls.

As the theme at Created by Hand is Vintage this week, I have submitted this as my entry.

Another toe dip into the fabric pool!

A couple of weeks ago I was partnered with Jan in a domino book swap. Inside the envelope she sent me (apart from the beautiful domino book!) was an assortment of lace and buttons, a picture printed onto cotton and an instruction to 'make another pretty fabric collage'.

So I have done as I'm told! (Jan can be really fierce if you cross her...LOL)

Here is my second venture into the world of fabric collage. I would like to think I am improving but I know there is still a long way to go before I get even close to my other talented friends!

The fabric back is a piece of Chinese silk given to me by my mother in law. She had a whole array of small pieces in different colours - these are now all at home with me! Inside the pack of material were bills dating back to 1975 from the Kowloon store where they were bought (this proves doesn't it, that if you keep something long enough it eventually comes in useful!!!)

The applique rose corner I cut from a sweater a long time ago and found in the bottom of the lace box - I stitched some tiny beads on it for a bit of sparkle.

All I need to do now is to make several more pieces and get them into a book...............................!!

A First in Fabric

As well as messing with metal during Maureen's visit, she also cast a watchful eye over me whilst I transferred some images onto fabric. What is a relatively easy process was difficult for me because the ink in my HP printer is obviously not designed to allow you to take a printed image and transfer it onto cloth! I managed it eventually - but had to use some of the pics Maureen had printed off at home.

With that mission accomplished I was then taken to task about my lack of use of the new sewing machine that was a present about 5 years ago! After a couple of hours deciphering the instruction leaflet and a trial run,I promised Maureen faithfully that I would use it (and also use the beautiful sewing case she had made for me - complete with already threaded needles!!LOL).

I had been completely overwhelmed by the beautiful fabric collages Maureen had done and we spent rather a long time trawling through other people's blogs looking at their work too! I was instructed to just 'treat fabric like paper' when making collages, which was sound advice from my learned mentor!!

After Maureen went home I was determined to give a fabric collage a try..... unfortunately a large card order coupled with my bad neck giving me lots of aggravation in the last week meant it was a slow process.

BUT ............... here is the result! OK it's not perfect and I am not completely satisfied ...... but it's a start!

Fantasy

Gothic Arch challenge this week was 'Fantasy'.

I made this arch using a background courtesy of Flickr Collage Group, added a fairy stamp and some wording. The stars, butterfly, flowers and heart are silver fabric and I used some glitter glue to give it some shimmer.

Another one for my gothic arch book! I have made a front cover so far and mounted all the other arches I've done onto co-ordinating paper - so at least have made a start!

Butterfly

Have been catching up on a couple of challenges. Arty Girlz's theme was Butterflies.

I made an ATC by using paper from the Oriental paper Stack for the background, I stamped and embossed the cherry blossom image in gold and ran the embossing powder round the edge of the ATC.

The fabric butterfly was cut from a piece of material, treated to prevent fraying and mounted onto card.

I used a Gold Pearl Stickle to highlight some parts of the butterfly and finally added a chinese coin.

Halloween

There was an 'open' theme on Gothic Arches this week so I took the opportunity to post a 'fun' arch! The background of this arch is fabric - it looks like a sparkly spiders web- which I spotted in the window of a small haberdashery shop in the nearest town to me - I have another Arch almost completed (not a halloween theme!) and really should get round to finishing it! I've got loads of ideas for gothic arches as i really like the shape and size, trouble is I never have enough time to make any of my ideas come to fruition!

I've also had a bit of a spend on some stamps this week, so have been too busy stamping the images in different colours seeing what they look like instead of actually doing any proper crafting!